Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-06
THE FIGHT IN A CAR
PARTICULARS OF THE RESCUE OF A
RoBBHR PROM OFFICERS.
a Gallant Struggle by Police Captain,
After Reing seriously Wounded,
to Keep His Prisoner.

y NAtNtlhui hpttilii hi'to viz iDilDN-
ing details of the rescue OF prisoner
mentioned in our telegraphic columns
Yesterday II is many years since this
community has been so intensely ex-
cited as II was Friday over o muir
derous assault maize on two police Of
ficers, who were bringing thief from
Iittsburgh. Peaceful as the people
here ordinarily are, it is not improba-
bic that if the miscreants should be
brought here while the heat OF passion
RACES they might fare badly.
A gang of English thieves-said to be
the most expert and daring that ever
came to America-has been here for
some weeks quietly prospecting. The
police must have known this fact, rs it
was published in one of the newspapers.
Police-C Captain Hoehn is a veteran
officer of uncommon acumen and re-
markable nerve, who has done consid-
eable brilliant detective work, but is
widest known for his capture of the last
of the notorious Foster brothers,
though it was the capture of George
Fosters corpse, the desperate being
killed while trying to shoot a police
man. Coming out of the war with
the record of hero, he has become
very popular here through his honora-
bic and efficient career police service
One week ago tonight Captain Hoehn
was concealed in dark doorway on the
business part of Superior street. EVIL
IDENTIFY watching for something unusual,
as he was off regular duty. Not far
from where he was hidden, while people
were frequently passing along the
walk. and with line OF hacks drawn
up at the curb, adroit thieves managed
to successfully open the front door of
Benedict d Ruedy's fur store, pack
two huge trunks with $500 worth
Of soalskin garments, and Ship the
booty from the rear door by means OF
an express wagon, i'll which they and
the "swag were rapidly driven to
Bedford, twelve miles from here, where
they took the midnight train for Pitts
burgh. The robbery was 50 cleverly
perpetrated that it was not discovered
until the store was opened for business
the next day. Captain Hoohn was the
first TO get track Of the robbers, and he
followed them to Pittsburgh, Just TWEEN
tv-four hours later. With the aid of the
police there he succeeded in capturing
one OF the gang and finding the
trunks, but they bad been emptled. The
prisoner was Harry McMunn, who
seemed not at all disturbed over the ar
rest, but would not come to Cleveland
without "A requisition from the Governor
of Ohio. TO procure the necessary
documents caused delay, but near mid
night last night Captain Hoehn started
homewarG from Allegheny City on the
Cleveland and Pittsburgh road with his
prisoner shackled to W. II. Hulligan, a
Cleveland detective, in the seat in the
smoking-car in front of him.
Unknown to the officers, one of Nc
Munns pals was in the same car, tick
eted to Hudson, while three others took
Fort Wayne train, which leayesPitts-
burgh at the same time, two having
tickets for Ravenna and one for Hud-
son. The two trains met at Alliance.
The trio Of desperate men left the Fort
Wayne train at Alliance. and seated
themselves in the ladies' car OF the
Cleveland and Pittsburgh train. One
Of them carried package, which after
ward proved TO be An iron coupling-pin
wrapped in paper.
On nearing Ravenna, a small station,
at $50 A. NJ, the three men reused mp,
declined flask Of whiskey offered by
passenger. and, as the train stopped,
moved forward to the smoking-car,
which had only six occupants captain
Hoehn, Detective Hulligan, the prison
or, one of the gang, German clergy
man, and an Indiana farmer. Their
work was thcn done quickly.
The conductor bad gone to the tele-
graph-ofiice for orders, the two train
hands were occupied elsewhere, and
the gang took possession of the ear.
One guarded the door with revolver
in each hand, the man with the
couplinG-pin sayagely pounded Hoehn
and Hulligan on the head, inficting
wounds which are terribly seyeie, AID
then smashed the lamps in the car.
Two men held rcyolyers at Captain
Hoehn's head, but, although knock
cd almost seEseless Ivy the blow
from the coupling pin, he drew
his pistol, and during the melee which
ensued in the darkpcss he emptied his
revolver, but with unknown effect. He
was shot three times, 'but struggled
braveIy on. While two men fought him
one way, two others dragged the I'M
conscious Hulligan and his prisonerout
of the car and to lumbcr-pile back OF
the station, where they took from the
detectives rocket the keys to the hand
cuffs, liberated their pal, and made of.
| CAPTAIN Hoehn, stunned, bleeding, and
frightfully wounded, followed from the
car, but the men had flown, and all he
could do was to summon help for HUI
ligan.
The suffering men were made as COM
Portable as possible and brought to this
CITY. Hochn was taken to the City
Hospital; Hulligan To his home. Both
were mercilessly beaten with the cOu-
pling-pin, but the injuries, though OF
the most painful character, may not
prove fatal. Captain Hoehn was shot
through the right arm, in the right hip,
and a bullet grazed his chest. Both
men were more comfortable tonight
than would naturally be expected, and
their physicians think they will re-
cover.
The Rev. Carl Weiss, pastor OF st.
Johannes's Evangelical Independent
church, on the west side, u passenger
on the train, gives this account of the
rescue and assault: 81 got on the train
at Allegheny City at 1925 A. NJ, Pitts
burgh time. | went into the smoking
Ger and made preparations to pass the
night. ] noticed some men seated IN
the front of the car and went and sat
down in the second or third seat be-
hind them. l afterward learned that
these men were Captain Hoehn and De-
tective Hulligan and their prisoner. |
fell into doze and slept for some
time. Before going to sleep at one
time / noticed that Detective Hulligan
was handcufled to the prisoner, who
several times lifted his hat ms if bowling
TO some one. have since thought the
| lifting of the hat meant signal to the
prisoners friends. | was asleep when
the fight began, and so [ don't know
when the men came into the car.